Dr. Babak Momeni
Assistant Professor of the Department of Biology at Boston College

Title: Synthetic ecology: using microbes as model systems for studies in community ecology

Research:
Complexity of natural microbial communities (involving many species, multitude of interactions, and non-steady environment) has impeded attempts to discover the link between community interactions and functions. To study microbial communities, our lab instead examines communities at different levels of complexity to search for general governing principles. These include simulated in silico communities, synthetic communities of microbes engineered to engage in defined interactions, and simple microbial communities isolated from nature. Taking an interdisciplinary approach, we combine quantitative experimentation with mathematical modeling to discover interactions and to explain functions that arise from those interactions. Our long-term goal is to devise strategies to control microbial communities. This will have broad impact in biomedical applications (e.g. managing microbial infections), environmental applications (e.g. degrading waste), as well as industrial applications (e.g. producing biofuels).

For more info:
http://biofrontiers.ipm.ir/speakers.jsp